Queensland facing long, dry hot summer

QUEENSLAND is facing a hot and dry Christmas holiday period with little prospect of decent rain until February or March.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson Jess Carey told Fairfax while the south-east corner of Queensland had slightly higher rainfall this spring compared with last year, the state's overall spring season rainfall was below average.

Mr Carey said above average day-time and night-time temperatures and below average rainfall are expected for the summer months ahead as a result of the strong El Nino conditions in Queensland.

"We get floods everywhere in Queensland every year, we get cyclones somewhere in Queensland every year. But it is less likely this year to be widespread."

Mr Carey said wetter summer months would probably kick in during January and February. The south-east corner would have a higher chance of rainfall during these later summer months than the drought-affected areas of central and west Queensland.